Free car check by registration
Start with a free reg check to see DVLA vehicle data, MOT status and tax status. Then unlock the full history for the risks that matter before you buy.
Free · No signup required · Instant results
- Official DVLA & DVSA data
- Cars, vans & motorcycles
- No account needed
Need the full picture?
A free check confirms useful basics. A full history check reveals the risk checks that matter most before buying, including the things that could cost you thousands.
Check if money is still owed on the vehicle
Police National Computer theft markers
Insurance write-off categories (Cat S, N, A, B)
Detect odometer rollbacks and discrepancies
Number of previous owners and V5C changes
Every test, advisory and failure since 2005
Get the full history
Finance · Theft · Write-off · Mileage · Ownership
From £15 · Instant results · £30k data guarantee
What is a free car check?
A free car check lets you look up the DVLA data held on any UK-registered vehicle using its registration number. You can confirm the make, model, year, colour, fuel type and engine size, and see the current MOT status and tax or SORN status at a glance.
It is useful when browsing listings online, verifying a seller's description, or simply checking the basics before you take any further steps. The data comes directly from official DVLA and DVSA records — the same sources used by the government's own vehicle enquiry and MOT services.
What can you check for free?
The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) holds records on every vehicle registered in the UK. Our free car check surfaces the key DVLA-held details in seconds, alongside MOT status from the DVSA:
Confirm the vehicle matches the advert
Basic specification from the number plate
Whether the MOT is currently valid
Whether the vehicle is taxed, untaxed or off road
Registration date and emissions where held
Shown when the DVLA records it as marked for export
Free results depend on the data the DVLA and DVSA hold for that vehicle. Where a field is not available, it is simply left out — we never estimate or invent it.
What the full Carpeep report adds
The DVLA does not hold records on finance, insurance write-offs or police theft markers. Those are the checks that protect you from a costly mistake, and they sit in the full car history check for £15:
- Outstanding finance — recorded HP, PCP and conditional sale agreements
- Write-off history — insurance categories including Cat S and Cat N, and legacy categories where available
- Stolen markers — recorded against UK police records
- Mileage analysis — mileage at each MOT to flag possible discrepancies
- Ownership history — the recorded number of previous owners
- Import / export and scrapped markers, plus the last 5 digits of the VIN for identity matching
Free car check vs full Carpeep report
| Check | Free check | Full report |
|---|---|---|
| Basic vehicle details | ||
| MOT status & history | Status | Full history |
| Tax / SORN status | ||
| Import / export marker | ||
| Outstanding finance | — | |
| Write-off (Cat S, N, A, B) | — | |
| Stolen marker | — | |
| Mileage analysis | — | |
| Ownership history | — | |
| Scrapped status | — | |
| VIN last 5 digits | — |
Want to confirm a vehicle is insured? That is not part of any history check — use the official askMID insurance check for that.
No check, free or paid, can record every accident, repair or fault. A report shows what is recorded against the registration in the data sources above.
When should you upgrade to a full report?
A free check is a helpful starting point, but it only covers the basics. If you are seriously considering buying a used car — especially from a private seller — a full car history check is worth running before you pay a deposit or travel to view it.
Upgrade when you want to know whether the car still has money owed on it, has been written off or stolen, or has a mileage or ownership history that does not add up. These are the hidden problems that can cost thousands to resolve, or mean losing the car entirely.
Free tools & related checks
Look up a vehicle by its registration
Car spec check →Model, engine size and BHP by reg
MOT check →Current MOT status and history
Tax check →Tax and SORN status by reg
Frequently asked questions
Is a free car check really free?
Yes. The Carpeep free car check is completely free, with no signup or payment. Enter any UK registration number to see DVLA vehicle details, MOT status and tax or SORN status instantly.
What does a free car check show?
A free car check shows the DVLA and DVSA data held on a vehicle: make, model, year, colour, fuel type, engine size, current MOT status and tax or SORN status. It does not include risk checks like finance, theft or write-off history.
Can I run a free reg check?
Yes. A free reg check looks the vehicle up from its number plate and returns the basic DVLA details plus current MOT and tax status. You do not need the V5C logbook or an account.
Is a free car check the same as an HPI check?
No. A free car check confirms basic DVLA details, MOT and tax status. An HPI-style check is a paid vehicle history check that also covers finance, write-off, stolen and mileage records. Carpeep is not affiliated with HPI.
Does a free car check show outstanding finance?
No. Outstanding finance is held by UK lenders, not the DVLA, so it is not part of a free check. You need the full Carpeep report to see recorded finance agreements.
Does a free car check show if a car is stolen?
No. Stolen markers come from police records, which are not part of a free check. A full Carpeep report checks recorded stolen markers along with the other buying risks.
Does a free car check show Cat S or Cat N?
No. Insurance write-off categories such as Cat S and Cat N come from insurer records and are only included in the full Carpeep report, not a free check.
Can I check a car by registration?
Yes. Enter the registration exactly as shown on the number plate and the free check returns the DVLA vehicle details, MOT status and tax status. The same reg unlocks the full report.
Is a free car check enough before buying?
A free check is a useful first step, but it is not enough on its own. It cannot show finance, write-off, stolen or mileage history, which are the risks that matter most before you buy. For those you need a full vehicle history check.
What is the difference between a free car check and a full vehicle history check?
A free check confirms DVLA details, MOT and tax status. A full vehicle history check adds outstanding finance, insurance write-off history, stolen markers, mileage analysis, ownership history, import/export and scrapped status in one £15 report.
Can I check previous owners for free?
No. The number of previous owners is not shown in a free check. The full Carpeep report includes the recorded ownership count and history where available.
Does Carpeep show MOT and tax details?
Yes. The free car check shows current MOT status and expiry, plus tax or SORN status and the tax due date, using official DVLA and DVSA data. The full report adds the complete MOT and mileage history.
Run a full car history check
Finance, theft, write-offs, mileage, ownership and more, all in one report.
From £15 · Instant results · No signup · £30k data guarantee
From £15 · Instant · £30k data guarantee